Need some car advice (volkswagon)

[pikasub]

I'm pretty much decided on buying some model of the 2001 or 2002 vw jetta but I'm so conflicted on which model to buy (v4 or v6). On which model will I be able to use these modifications that are supposed to boost HP dramatically. How much will these mods cost and where can I find more info on them? Which model of the Jetta will give me the best value? I mean money isn't the largest issue but I want to get the most for my money (I'm sure everyone out there does)

Any VW owners wanna share some pleasant or horror stories with me?

 

[nateholtrop]

vw jetta's are like the ultimate vheix on this board.

Nate

 

[yakko]

<< (v4 or v6). >>

They don't come with a V4. As far a what mods will do what and cost how will be decided on exactly what you want out of the car. The VW Motorsport 1.9 liter turbo diesel with 270hp/350ft lbs of torque will cost you about $65,000.00 to get installed but it is fast and reliable which is why it is their race motor. However if you do not want to go to those extremes you will need to decide what you want and then ask for advice from there. Since the car is not available with 4Motion here in the states yet I would stick with the VR6 because the extra weight will help keep the front end planted.

 

[ultravox]

And just what race is it that you are entering where a stock vr6 motor won't be fast enough? Perhaps it's because you feel you have way too many points left to lose on your drivers's licence and you want to take care of that right away. Maybe you feel you're not going to pay quite enough on your insurance premiums?
What? you're only going tp spend that extra $1000 mod to burn up those low profile 50's at street lights? Go with one of those &quot;guaranteed to increase HP by 35% and void all warranties&quot; chip mods, then surely you'll have to fight off the babes with a stick, you know how they're impressed by quick take-offs and loud stereos ...........

 

[Kindjal]

All your answers can be found at VWVortex Forums. I have a Passat V6 and would recommend buying a 1.8T Passat if you can afford it as opposed to buying a Jetta VR6. Aftermarket performance chips can easily boost performance by 30HP over the 150HP of the 1.8T. You save some cash over a VR6 Jetta plus you get a better car...the Passat.

 

[vi edit]

yakko, no 1.8t?

The Jetta Wolfsburg 1.8t sounds like a pretty decent deal. 1.8t is supposed to be highly &quot;tuneable&quot;.

 

[yakko]

vi_edit,

If he could get the 4Motion AWD system I would say go with the 1.8t and tune it all the way but when you start getting over 300 hp to just the front wheels problems can arise.

 

[cyclistca]

Are you female because according to a poll done last month here only women buy Jetta's.

I would go with the L4 turbo. Nice car with a good punch and a great price. I would wait awhile. Right now it puts out 150 hp but latter this year it will be upped to *cough* 170.

 

[pikasub]

Um no I'm not female but I still like the jetta anyways

I'm leaning towards the Jetta Wolfsburg, any comments on that model?

 

[Kindjal]

VW Jetta Wolfsburg edition sounds like a good package. Check the VW Forums on the VW Vortex (link above) to see what those who might have them are saying. Do you need 4 doors? I ask because I think a VW Golf GTI is a great deal too.

Good luck...VW dealers are notoriously sucky.

PS VW = &quot;Volkswagen&quot;...there is no wagon in my VW

 

[Stifko]

The Jetta Wolfsburg is really nice. The VR6 only produces a few more HP than the 1.8liter turbo. I would like a Jetta or Golf TDI, you get almost 50 miles to the gallon w/their diesels. Also hold out for the Jetta Wagon, that looks sweet if you're a wagon person.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Yes, good luck with the dealer you go to. I have had some very poor experiances when I have gone to two. First was a year or two back, granted I was 18 but I still was seriously looking. Noone ever came and said hi. Next time was last summer at a different dealership, and I told the dude straight up, &quot;I am only looking right now, but if I did decide to buy one it would have to be with no money down, only my trade in (a 90' VW Jetta).&quot; All the time I was like &quot;yeah right, this will never happen. No money down except for a couple grand for my car....&quot; Anyways he shows me a beautiful 2000 Jetta, price? $19,995. I knew that the standard MSRP was $17,995 on the base model so I had to ask &quot;what the hell?&quot;. The salesperson said that since jettas were such a &quot;hot&quot; commodity in the Portland, Ore. area that it is a &quot;supply and demand&quot; thing. So I told him that if I really did get interested then you are going to have to take that $2,000 right off of there. &quot;I'll see what I can do&quot; was his reply. Anyways, he really wants to sell something to me so I let him run some numbers with him fully knowing that I cannot put any money down.

So after like 15 minutes or so he comes back and shows me a piece of paper that reads, &quot;$1599.99 down + trade-in + $499.99 a month&quot;. I just sat there with a confused look on my face, I told him at least four times that the ONLY way I could do it was just with my trade-in. If it wasn't possible he should have said that instead of showing me the numbers that he did, lol.

Funny how a person can remember things like that.

 

[Boogak]

Get the 1.8 liter turbo engine. Go to www.goapr.com and get 196hp for $500.

 

[Emos]

I would also recommend the VW Jetta Wolfsburg Edition. The 1.8T is a great platform for tuning. I have a 1.8T A4 that I have &quot;chipped&quot; from 170 to 207hp and it really makes a big difference...very good bang for the buck ($500) performance-wise! Check out the APR site for info on ECU upgrades.

 

[cjchaps]

I'm suprised the Subaru WRX hasn't popped up in this thread yet

 

[vi edit]

cyclistca, if I'm not mistaken, the 2002 VW 1.8t's will sporting 180 HP, but they are only going to list it as 170 for insurance purposes and so that they don't deter some potential buyers from Audi

 

[Nutdotnet]

Yeah, the WRX....that is going to be the FIRST car I am going to look at when am finally serious to buy a new car. My aunt just got a Outback Sport and I was able to drive it when I visited her, it kicks some serious ass!

 

[Emos]

The WRX does have one of the best power/price ratios around. If you can get past the front end styling it's a really great car! Kind of reminds me of &quot;Well she has a great personality!&quot;

 

[prontospyder]

Yeah...also consider a Passat 1.8T...those are very nice

 

[PassatVR6]

Go with the Jetta 1.8T Wolfsburg edition. That model has the best 'value'. With a Garret or APR chip you will be boosted up to ~200hp. Your dealer might not like that idea so much, some dealers are cool with it though.

I am in a Dallas area VW club and one of our members (BillyT) has a highly modified 1.8T Golf who is aiming for 12's in the 1/4 mile this weekend at the Drag Wars in Ennis. The 1.8T is a great motor for tuning.

But if you are worried about warranty issues, the VR6 has plenty of power in stock form. Just last night I out ran a new Jetta 1.8T in my Passat VR6 and I had 2 extra passengers compared to the Jetta who was driving solo. Once you chip the 1.8T it becomes a different ballgame, but theres also lots of mods you can do for the VR6...

Whatever you do you better not get an automatic or else ill shoot you!
go with the stick shift.

ALso later this fall the 2002 VW Models come out, most notable is the new VR6: They are now 24Valve VR6's with 204hp and come with a 6speed manual tranny. Projected MSRP is $22K a bargain if you ask me considering the GLX model comes with loads of great features.
The 1.8T GTi's and Jettas will be upgraded from 150hp to 170hp also.

-Matt

 

[cyclistca]

cyclistca, if I'm not mistaken, the 2002 VW 1.8t's will sporting 180 HP

That's correct vi_edit. That what the *cough* was for. VW says officially that it's 170 when they know that it is in fact 180.

 

[vi edit]

<< That what the *cough* was for >>



DOH! I missed that Sorry!

 

[Triumph]

mmmmmmm, i LOVE my passat 1.8T. i'm glad other people are realizing how great the VW's are. and no, they are NOT chicks cars.

also, I drove my cousins VR6 GTI once, and that thing is mighty quick! sure, you can get faster from a modded 1.8T. but that's only if you want to mod it...not everyone wants to. still, the 1.8T is no slouch, and with the lower insurance and increased mileage, you might just decide that it's the right engine for you regardless of performance.

 

[gunf1ghter]

The 1.8T is not a V4 its an inline 4. It's highly tuneable but you have to decide if you can stomach the risks of chipping... the dealer could potentially refuse you warranty work if they determine the chip was responsible for causing stress on the motor and causing a failure.

Even if the dealer is stupid to you chipping or doesn't care that you are chipped there will likely be some premature wear of the turbo and the clutch maybe other engine parts as well.

that being said, I chipped my 1.8T Audi A4 after getting 5,000 miles on the clock.

like others have said, APR and Garret are very good, very responsible tuners.